El Vado Lake State Park - State park in Tierra Amarilla - NM-112, USA

We really enjoyed our stay here. The camp host and ranger were super nice, friendly, and helpful. It was absolutely gorgeous! The only real issue is that the lake water is so low that they only turn the water on in the campground from 3:30pm-6pm. So, if you want to use the flushing toilets, showers, your water spigot, and/or fill up your tanks, that's when you do it. They do have vault toilets that are really clean. Also, if you have T-Mobile service, there is none there. Zero. But, overall, we really enjoyed our stay here.

El Vado was great. Although the lake is nearly empty due to construction, the campground and the hosts more than made up for it. They had campfires, Sunday morning breakfasts and kept everything clean as a whistle. They were all extremely helpful and attentive to your needs or questions. Brent and Kathy even picked up something for me when they went to Chromo to the Lowe's grocery store (nearest town). Water was available at the nice hot showers with flush toilets from 4-6 only. Again, due to the work being done. You could also fill your tanks or containers at your campsite water spigot during that period reach day. The water was clear and clean. There are also restrooms that don't flush for the other times you need one. There are trails for hiking or dog walking. A playground for the kids, a herd of elk, prairie dogs, squirrels, and humming birds (that I saw). Overall, this is a campground in NM that I'll be returning to. 😁

Even though the lake was nearly dry due to dam repairs, the campsite was clean and well-maintained. The park assistant was nice and helped us pick a good spot. We hiked a trail headed north (done remember the name), which was easy and very pretty. Prepare to take lots of photos!

It's a great place for camping but the time I was there since they weren't letting any water in from the dam it was very low

Very clean and quite. Smallest of the NM State Parks I have stayed at. Park Host was either gone or uninterested in interacting with the campers in the area. Beautiful views and park was clean. Water level is extremely low.

Dates of stay 28-30 Jun 17. Great park. Quite clean. Camp host very nice and readily accessible. It's about 4 miles to the park as you turn off of NM-112. Ice and firewood available (according to numerous signs, I didn't confirm that). Large facility split up in three major campgrounds (Grassy Point, Elk Run, Pinon Beach). There's also some primitive areas, but I didn't explore those. Grassy Point is a fairly large, wide open grass field, Elk Run much of the same. The shower/toilet facility splits Grassy Point and Elk Run...some spots here have a great overlooking view of the lake. Pinon Beach has a bit more of a camping "feel" (in my opinion). Lots of Pinon and Juniper trees mixed with sagebrush. Pinon Beach has a lot (35+) of sites ranging from room enough for a car and a tent to a 45 ft triple axle 5th wheel. At Pinon, a quite a bit of sites have a pretty good slope. I stayed at site 67 on Pinon Beach which is probably the furthest point away from the main campground. There were (at most) 3 other campsites occupied on Pinon Beach. No water spigots at Pinon Beach, just vault toilets. Very serene mornings. Winds would moderately kick up about mid-day (mostly west-to-east wind) ... afternoons had stronger winds but not bad where I stayed. Lots of birds...saw some eagles and some ospreys. Also saw two deer. On some of the taller power poles you will see Osprey nests. The lake seemed pretty full/high...I didn't get a sense of drought/low water at all. The mid-day/afternoon winds hindered paddle craft outings. 5.5 mile Rio Chama Trail is excellent...the trail is still closed at the Heron Lake end. Bring enough water for your pups and yourself...the trail does cross the Rio Chama, but pretty much at the tail end of the 5.5 mile hike. A very cool suspension bridge over the Rio Chama. No mile markers on trail from the El Vado start point...you will cross a 2 mile and a 1 mile marker, but that's from the Heron Lake side. Trail does have rocky sections...a hiking stick proved useful for more secure footing.

The dam and lake are being worked on. But this place is beautiful and magical anyways! Large campsites with amazing views! The volunteers were the nicest, most helpful, positive people ever! I've been camping across the US for 6 months and this was the CLEANEST most beautiful place I've been! I can't wait to go back!!!!!! #nothingbut love for this location❤️

We have stayed here many times. There is very little water in the reservoir, however, the scenery is beautiful, the remoteness is real (no phone or TV reception), and the stargazing is phenomenal!